CO129-509-15 Water supply- development scheme 30-1-1928 - 17-1-1929 — Page 156

५

154

With these considerations in mind I turn first

to the problem of Hong Kong island. A careful examina- tion, which I made on the spot with the assistance of Mr. Creasy and Mr. Henderson, satisfied me that there is only one more reservoir of any size which can be built in the island, namely that in the Aberdeen valley. The Aberdeen scheme is estimated to yield 2.12 million gallons a day and it is especielly designed to alleviate the situation in the Western Districts of Victoria City which now suffer most (vide last paragraph of Mr. Southom's telegram of 1st August, 1928). It will also involve the

transfer to Government of the reservoir of the Aberdeen

Paper Mills, which it is desirable should be shifted to the mainland, and which ought not any longer to draw upon the meagre water supply of the island. I am, therefore, strongly of opinion that the Aberdeen scheme, which is sound from the engineering point of view, and for which funds can at once be made available, should be put through with as little delay as possible.

The Aberdeen scheme will not, however, finally solve the problem in Hong Kong island, as the additional requirements are estimated at 3 million rising to 4 million gallons a day. But, as no further supply of fresh water on a large scale can be made available on the island, the only possible alternatives are (a) to distil salt water, of which there is an unlimited supply: or (b) to get fresh

water from the mainland.

I understand that distillation of salt water is

an expedient adopted on a large scale in other parts of the Empire; and, having regard to the problems presented by the defence of the Colony and by the lease of the New Territories, I consider that unless the expense is prohibitive, as to which point I have no reliable

information,

-

by far the safest solution would be to

distil rather than to pipe water across the harbour.

T